President Bola Tinubu yesterday formally reported the recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa to the African Union, warning that the incidents undermined the continent’s solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence.

Specifically, he requested prompt collective action from the continent’s leaders, including the placement of this matter on the agenda for the 40th Ordinary Session of the Assembly.

President Tinubu made Nigeria’s position known in a message delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima, at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Luanda, Angola.

Represented at the annual continental event by Shettima, the President called on the Africa Union to place the matter on the agenda of the 40th Ordinary Session of the Assembly scheduled for January 2027, while urging African leaders to reaffirm their commitment to the safety, protection and dignity of all African nationals.

President Tinubu called for stronger continental efforts to combat xenophobia and Afrophobia, stressing that dialogue, preventive diplomacy, and collective action remained essential to preserving African unity.

On the wider security situation across the continent, Nigeria backed the adoption of the Luanda Action Plan as a practical roadmap for strengthening conflict prevention, arguing that preventing conflicts was cheaper and more sustainable than managing them after they erupt.

 President Tinubu said conflict prevention remains more cost-effective and sustainable than conflict management for Nigeria.

President Tinubu warned that fragmented peace initiatives and increasing external interference through foreign military forces, mercenaries, and private defence contractors risked weakening the Africa Unon’s conflict prevention mechanisms and the principle of African ownership.

He further called on arms-producing and exporting countries to strengthen cooperation with African states and prevent weapons and ammunition produced within their jurisdictions from being diverted to terrorists and other non-state armed groups.

The President maintained that while the Arica Union had robust mechanisms for preventing and resolving conflicts, limited trust and inconsistent implementation continue to undermine their effectiveness.

He said the growing reliance on external actors risks weakening African institutions and the principle of African ownership, calling on member states to renew their commitment to collective responsibility for Africa’s peace and security.

Nigeria also backed sustainable and predictable financing for African Union peace operations and the full operationalization of United Nation Security Council Resolution 2719 to strengthen the continental body’s capacity to respond effectively to conflicts and crises.

President Tinubu urged African leaders to recommit themselves to home-grown solutions, stronger cooperation, and shared responsibility in tackling the continent’s security challenges.

He advice renewal of collective commitment to solidarity, cooperation, and shared responsibility as both country build the  Africa they want.